ArtSlut

Artpace reunion in New York

January 29, 2012 at 7:20 PM

On January 21, artists, curators, and supporters gathered in New York to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Artpace, the "international laboratory for the creation and advancement of contemporary art" founded by the late, great artist, collector, and philanthropist Linda Pace in 1995.

The invitation for the party, where we asked Artpace alums to share a favorite memory or anecdote.

Joan Bankemper (left, International Artist-In Residence 98.2; New York, NY): "The human experience and the hospitality. I had a four-month-old at the time (Sophie) and people kept saying, 'She's so precious.' When I left, I thought, I should rename her Precious." Anne Wallace (right, International Artist-In Residence 04.3; San Antonio, TX): "Having the level of support and technical support to let me extend my work. It let me push myself. Artpace helps people make their best work. And being with the other residents. It was hard not having enough downtime with the other artists. And it is sad when it's over. It helped me make a big transition in my work."

Devon Dikeou (left, International Artist-In Residence 11.1; Austin, TX): "The best part was the entire thing because it was dreamy. It was sad when it was over." Graham Fagen (International Artist-In Residence 11.3; Glasgow, Scotland): "Julie Blakeslee (the party's host) furnished the artist's apartment [I stayed in]. When I think about another artist in my apartment, I get jealous. I also really enjoyed driving to Marfa."

Chris Sauter (left, International Artist-In Residence 99.3; Boerne, TX): "Artpace was between directors and Linda was out of town. When she showed up near the end of my residency and saw drywall dust all over Artpace, she got on the maintenance guy. Then she walked into my room and said, 'Never mind.'" Nate Cassie (center, International Artist-In Residence, 97.4; San Antonio, TX): "I have a lot, but the one that comes first to my mind is helping Inigo Ovalle, who was in residence with me, pick up a part of his piece. He kept telling me it was in Houston and we'd drive down and get it. I had planned this whole day thinking we could see museums and have lunch, etc. When I showed up at the crack of dawn to drive with him in a U-Haul, he confessed he had just looked at the map the night before and in fact we were going to East Texas, nowhere near Houston but the Piney Woods, to pick up isolation chambers from a manufacturer there. We did okay anyway and I saw a part of Texas I had never expected to." Ken Little (right, International Artist-In Residence 95.4; San Antonio, TX): "We took a formal portrait of the space with the work in it. I asked Linda, Riley (Robinson), Mike Casey, and Chris and Georgia Erck to be in the panoramic photo. I asked them to all wear dark clothes and Riley showed up in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt."

Tony Feher (left, Hudson Show(Room) 12.1; New York, NY): "I had a fantastic time across the board. I know Kelly O' Connor from the Chinati Foundation in Marfa and Steven Evans has been a pal for a century and a half. It softens the landing when you know somebody." At right, Artpace's Amy Austin.